Former politician Ed Balls has admitted that his hip action could be a problem just days before he shimmies on to TV screens as one of the new Strictly Come Dancing contestants.

Ed, who was the Labour shadow councillor but lost his seat in the 2015 general election told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that his decision to go on the show is ‘definitely a midlife crisis’ but that he had more important things to worry about.

Like the jive.

‘I can do line dancing – unfortunately there’s no category for that,’ said Ed.

Ed Balls shows off his line dancing skills (Picture: LNP)

‘I’m quite worried about the jive, because my hips don’t really move in the right way. But I’ve got a great professional partner and I’ve got three weeks to train.

‘It’s a chance to say that politics is about human beings and that those of us who come out of politics – in my sort of retirement phase – can do new things. It’s exciting.’

Ed will discover his dancing partner on Saturday night’s launch episode for the new series of the hit BBC show but he’s up against some pretty big superstars including former pop star Louise Redknapp and Will Young, and two Olympic medal-winning athletes, Claudia Fragapane and Greg Rutherford.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One at 6.50pm on Saturday September 3.